We recently saw in our town newspaper the form to fill out for the town dog license. We never licensed our previous dogs, but for some reason, my husband thinks we should get a town license for Lily. I have no problem doing so, and it's not expensive, it just made me wonder: why do towns require dogs to be licensed and do all of you have your dog's licensed?
I remember years and years ago the town must have sent people door to door (to see who had a dog?) and we had a notice left for us stating something like: "Heard small dog barking inside" LOL - we had a pekingese/poodle mix and he was not licensed, but we never got a fine for it.

__________________"Acquiring a dog may be the only opportunity a human ever has to choose a relative" - Mordecai Siegal

It's a way for the town to generate income and I think it's tied to rabies vaccinations. If your dog has had its sufficient number during its life according to Jean Dodds, I don't see a reason for registering.

In my county, it has something to do with licensed dogs are allowed in any parks or public areas or something. I've never had any of my dogs checked for a license and we take them to the beach and various parks all the time. When my last roommate pulled a 'prank' and ran my dogs out of the yard and they went on a marathon run though the island while I was working, Ash was caught and I had him registered with the county for a few reasons. However, I had to show proof of rabies (not just the tag) and pay $5 because he is neutered. I know unneutered dog tags cost around $35. This year, all seven dogs (maybe eight, because I think our roommate is rescuing another dog, and depending of we foster again after Blue goes home next week) that live on the property are going to be registered as a precaution because, apparently, in this county there is no limit to the number of dogs on the property as long as they're registered.

In reality, I think it's just a way to generate more money for the county.

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Thanks for your replies. I thought it was pretty much only to generate money for our town, although apparently these funds are supposed to go for low cost rabies and other such programs. Although I suspect they want to track how many pets and what type each household has also. My husband heard of someone recently getting "caught" and the fine for no dog license was about $250 , so it made him want to spend the $14 for Lily's license.

__________________"Acquiring a dog may be the only opportunity a human ever has to choose a relative" - Mordecai Siegal

huh. I've never heard of getting fined for not having a license; I certainly wasn't, but then again....every county is different. I will say though, that after what happens to Ash when the lady that found him did not call my phone number on his large shiny red tag, or get him scanned for a microchip, having him registered with the county puts my mind a little more at ease since, if something like that happens again, my information is on file in yet another place. Also, word of advice...make really good friends with your nearest animal shelter team. :P

In both of the recent communities I've lived in in Canada, funds from dog licenses go towards funding the local animal shelter and things like providing dog baggies in local parks.

A dog license is also a good safeguard in the sense that if your dog ever gets out/loose accidentally (i.e. runs out your front door, or if an accident such as a heart attack befalls an owner while out walking the dog) and is found, there's an easy way for a bylaw officer to get in touch with you and let you know your pet has been located.

I find all of these uses fairly worthwhile, so don't mind paying the fee to license my dog.

In my county, the money from licensing goes directly to the county animal shelter/control. Vets are mandated to report all dogs to the county that receive rabies vaccinations, and the you have a certain number of days from there to register the dog with the county. If you register late there is a late fee, and if you do not register then you can be fined. However, I've never heard of anyone being fined unless there is a problem, such as dog bite, noise complaint, too many animals, loose animals, etc.

It's not just to pay for the dog warden. It's so they can identify your dog if he/she is lost. I found a little papillion last year and called the dog warden, who took him. The dog warden was very friendly and told my husband and I exactly the steps he was taking to find the dog's home. He had a sheet of all the papillions registered in the area and first contacted all of the people who had registered papillions. Little Romeo wasn't registered, so he had to take him to the shelter.
The shelter is at a vet's office and in the morning the tech said "hey, isn't that romeo?" It turned out Romeo was a patient at that vet's. The dog warden called the owners and they were happily reunited with Romeo. Needless to say, they registered him after that.

Dogs are required to be licensed in my City, they can and do fine unlicensed dogs. If your unlicensed dog is picked up by animal control the fees are higher, and dog must wear it’s license at public parks, dogs parks, etc.

The fee is $15 for one year for an altered dog and $35 for 3 years. It is $150 for an unaltered dog for one year and $400 for three years. The date of the licenses starts from the rabies vaccine date, regardless of when you pay the fees. Dogs in my state are required to have rabies vaccines administered by a vet every 3-years. A dog that bites and does not have a vaccine on records is usually euthanized, and at a minimum quarantined.

Not Spayed/Neutered and Wearing License $60-$80-$100-$120
Not Spayed/Neutered and Unlicensed/Not Wearing License $80-$100-$120-$140

Plus and Unaltered Civil Penalty charged when a dog or cat is impounded off the owner's property and is not spayed or neutered $35-$50-$100-$100

So the licensing fee structure strong encourages spaying/neutering. Fees support animal control. I love that I pick up a loose dog on the street and drop it off an animal control and know it will be safe and cared for. I love that I was able to get my neighbor to finally spay her little Chihuahua mix who almost died cranking out litters when I showed her that she could qualify for a free spay based on her income – she still has the same dog 3 years later and has not had a litter of puppies or kittens since, which is huge! I love that when another neighbor abandoned their rental home leaving a large population of semiferal cats starving to death, animal control provided me with traps and accepted the cats/kittens at no charge (many were put down due to health/behavior, but it was superior to having them starve to death).

What I don't love is the gigantic late fee if you let the dogs registration laps, it's another $100, yikes.

Interesting information you guys are posting.
Lily has a name tag with my phone number as well as her microchip. I always assumed the ID tag is the first line of defense if she is lost. If her ID tag and/or collar is missing, I thought a shelter or a vet would scan for a microchip. I figured if her nametag was missing, all her tags would be gone or her collar would be missing too.
Mom-n-Reiki, I'm curious about your post "... I will say though, that after what happens to Ash when the lady that found him did not call my phone number on his large shiny red tag, or get him scanned for a microchip, having him registered with the county puts my mind a little more at ease since, if something like that happens again, my information is on file in yet another place." If someone finds your dog and doesn't bother to call you or scan for microchip, she just really wanted to steal your dog and I don't understand how having a dog licensed would help get your dog back.
Please don't think I am being argumentative, I hope it doesn't sound that way. I am really just trying to figure it out! Thanks

__________________"Acquiring a dog may be the only opportunity a human ever has to choose a relative" - Mordecai Siegal